Applies only to tickets purchased directly from Southwest. Other airfare earns 1X.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (See Companion Pass Guide!)
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
Although the Southwest Priority Card charges the highest annual fee of any of the personal Southwest credit cards, we argue that it should be the go-to card for frequent Southwest flyers. That’s because the perks of this Southwest credit card easily justify the $149 annual fee.
Cardholders get four Upgraded Boardings each year, a $75 Southwest annual travel credit, 7,500 bonus points every cardmember anniversary (worth $105), and 25% back on inflight purchases. If you fly Southwest just a couple of times per year, these perks should easily save more than the $149 annual fee.
In addition to the sign-up bonus, cardholders earn 3x points on Southwest purchases and 2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases, local transit, commuting, and rideshare. In addition to those travel purchases, cardholders also earn 2x points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming services. All other purchases earn 1x points.
All points earned count toward earning the Southwest Companion Pass. Plus, cardholders will earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List and A-List Preferred Status for every $5,000 spent per year and there is no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn. And you don’t need to worry about foreign transaction fees with the Southwest Priority Card.
The only downside to Southwest Airlines credit cards is that Rapid Rewards points are only valuable for flying Southwest. If you want to earn flexible points, consider a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program, so you’ll still be able to top off your Rapid Rewards account when you need points for your next redemption, but you can also transfer them to any of Chase’s other airline or hotel transfer partners.
Lastly, this card is great for getting a good chunk of the way to a Southwest Companion Pass with the bonus offer. Read our guide on earning a Southwest Companion Pass for up to two years via new account bonuses.
There’s no traditional bonus offer, but Bilt cardholders can earn double points on purchases made on the first of the month (excluding Rent) up to 1,000 bonus points. You must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points.
Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.
The Bilt Mastercard® is the only credit card that lets you pay your rent with no transaction fees and earn one point per dollar in the process.
This works with any landlord, up to $100,000 in rent per year as long as you make 5 other purchases each statement period.
Alaska Airlines – a Bilt Rewards Transfer Partner (Image Courtesy: Alaska Airlines)
Bilt Transfer Partners | All transfer at a 1:1 ratio except ALL. Transfer times below: |
---|---|
Alaska Airlines MileagePlan | TBD |
Aer Lingus Avios | Within 10 minutes |
Air Canada Aeroplan | Within 10 minutes |
Air France Flying Blue | Within 10 minutes |
Avianca Lifemiles | Within 10 minutes |
British Airways Avios | Within 10 minutes |
Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles | Within 10 minutes |
Emirates Skywards | Within 10 minutes |
Iberia Avios | Within 10 minutes |
JAL Mileage Bank | Within 10 minutes (Account must be open 7 days before you can book an award with a Bilt transfer) |
Marriott Bonvoy | Up to 48 hours; generally within minutes. (5,000 point bonus when you transfer 20,000). |
IHG Rewards | Within 10 minutes |
Southwest Rapid Rewards | Within 12 hours |
United Airlines MileagePlus | Within 10 minutes |
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Within 10 minutes |
TAP Miles&Go | TBD |
Virgin Points | Within 10 minutes |
World of Hyatt | Within 10 minutes |
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) | TBD - Note, transfer is 3:2 |
💳 This card earns Bilt Rewards points. Bilt often runs transfer bonuses where you can get even more points when you transfer to airline or hotel partners at designated times. Transfer bonuses are awesome. Get 20%, 50%, 100% or more bonus miles when you transfer points at the right times. But they are easy to miss!
You can see all past Transfer Bonuses from Bilt Rewards points.
Even better? Get notified when a new transfer bonus comes out and again before it ends (either or both, your choice). Sign up for free alerts right here. 🔔
On the 1st of every month, Bilt Rewards has “Rent Day” – where you’ll earn double points on dining, travel and other purchases excluding rent and tax payments (up to 1,000 bonus points each Rent Day) on that one day.
On Rent Day, they also have other bonuses and giveaways, which may include status trials on an airline or hotel partner or a points transfer bonus.
Overall, this card is pretty much a “must have” for renters, since there is no other way to earn points – with no transaction fees – when paying your rent.
There is also no annual fee to hold the card and no Foreign Transaction Fees.
I have one myself and don’t see any reason for any renter not to have it.
Disclaimers